Optical sighting device for aircraft and the like



URUSS REFERENF.

Sme-20H Rouw :5o-lou- P. w. GRAY,Y OPTICAL ,SIGHTING DEVICE .FUR AIRCRAFT AND THE LIKE.

CATIONFILED )UNE l2, l9l8.

Patented Jan-3 ZSHETS-Sl-IEET l.

i l L..

P. W. GRAY.

OPTICAL SIGHTING DEVICE FR AIRCRAFT AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATIONl FILED .IUNE I2. 1918.

'Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

Lelozp.

i Unire!) s'rnirrs Per rnnor'wmrs GRAY, or Yann, mennnnfnssrenon' or cnn-'mr 'ro ALFRED v Tampon,ortronx,:eneinem.A v Y 'oPTIoAL sren'rnve Dnvrcn non. amonerr `Ann THE Lm 191s. serial no. 239,629.

v V.Speccation of LcttersvPatent. y fPaliented Jan. 1922.

' nppeation filed June 12,

(enamel: man rm rnovzsrons or Tm ecm or rumen 3, 1921, 41 sm'r. n, 1313.)

' To all :whom t may concern.'

England, June 11, 1917, Patent o. 127,877,)

of which the following is a specication.

rEhe present invention relates to improvements in sighting devices for'use on aircraft and the lik piece, bein According to the present .invention a sighting device consistingfof an eye-piece and an object glass, usually forming partof another instrument such as a bomb dropping mechanism 'ta-ken by Way of example, is divided into two parts, one 'of which, the eye- Cf carried in fixed relationship to the base, that is to say that it may move. if desired about its axis in a predetermined planel or again may have a movement at 'right angles to that plane such as for focussing purposes or in tlmJ case of a variable power eye-piece, but generally speaking is limited in its movement whilst, however, the object glass is unrestrained in its movement relatively to the base or general main portion of the instrui'nent. i

lThis object glass portion is preferably mounted on gimbals or on a ball and socket joint usually about a centre which will be the centre of the focal plane o the'said object glass. ,f A diaphragm or scale can be mounte conveniently in this focal plane to be carried by the eye-piece portion of the instrument and to be' movable across its field of view b a. cam or other suitable means. i The object glass can be restrained by external means to take up a constant position relatively to the surface of the earth, such as u for instance by arranging it to have vconsiderable inertia, or b connecting 1t to external means isolated rom any dynamic condition o the body carrying it, that is to say by any of. the multitudinous forms of gyrOStatS. I

The invention is more particularly Yfle-- scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in Whichz Figure 1 is a partial sectional elevation of the device applied to asight adapted for thel navigation of aircraft.

Figure 2 is a corresponding top plan view, *igure 3' is a sectional side view of the Figure is a bottom plan view.' J The device comprises a rigid-tubular support 1 which'can be clamped by screws 2 to a supporting bracket or the llke. The instrument proper is mounted on the Support 1 to be insulated against vibration'or shocks thereon. A frame 3 has three feetd having recesses for the reception of4 rubber cushions 5 bearing under bridge pieces 6 mounted on the suppurt 1. Rubber cushions 7, bear under the frame 3 in recesses 8 in it and'over recesses 9 in the support 1. An upstanding bracket 10 on the frame 3 carries an eyeguard 11 within the ield of which but mechanically separate therefrom lies an optical eyepiece com rising an eyelens 12 i 'sleeve 18 mounted on the frame 3. About this sleeve can turn a second sleeve 19 having a milled -operating head 20 and a. graduated dial 21. The sleeve'18has cam surfaces 23, 24 .upon it adapted to engage-pins 25, 26 respectively which slide in radial slots in a disc V Springs 27 tend to keep the pins in contact with the said .cam surfaces. pin 25 passes through a il-shaped frame 28 the legs 30 of which overlap the legs of the frame 29. The frame 29 carries a cross wire 32,l while the frame 28 carries a similar cross wire 31. It will cons uently be seen that if the Yhead 20'be rotatli it will rotate the sleeve 18 which causes the relative move ment of the two frames 28- and 29 carrying the wires 32 and 31, and this-will cause an even displacement of the two cross Wiresv` by head 34, which scale has another index i The he graduated scale 21 cooperatesV 7g ,aanstoot 36 cooperating with a scale of degrees of arc on an annulus 3.7 movable' by head 38. The

frame 3 is provided'on one side, at its outer sired angle of bearing in azimuth can be read opposite the index 40. Then the annulus '33 is by means of the head 34V brought I .into a. position in which the earth is seen to be moving at right angles to the cross wires 31 and 32. The angle of 'flight diie to drift is readable on the index 36. Finally the `lie-ad 18 is rotated to separate the cross wires corresponding4 to a given height on the altimeter of the machine and set up onthe scale 21 opposite the inde; 35. The cross wires will then be set apart at such a given distance that by observing by means of the stop watch the time taken by an objectv on the earth-to pass from under one cross wire 31 tov "under4 the other 32 the ground 'speed can be immediately calculated'. Carried bythe frame 3 is a disk 22 serving as a support for the frame through the medium of trunnions, hereinafter described.

On a frame 4:1 movable with and pivoted by means of trunnions 42 onthe disc 22 is a subframe 43 similarly mounted on trunnions 4st on the frame 41 whichA subi'ram'e carries the object glasses 45 and other lens v(when necessary) to form an optical ,telescope combination with the eyepiecel2. 14. The trunnions 44, 42 lie in the focal plane and consequently any motion of the objective which is maintained vertical by reason of its mass or by means of a gyrostat 46 suitably connected to the subframe 4.3, will not interfere with the proper functioning of the telescope in spite of the fact that the eyelens is fixed as of course the said objective is turningabout the centre of thefocal plane as a pivot. fr

I declare that what I claim is v 1. An aircraft navigational sight comprisiiig an optical element fixed to the air-- craft, and a ,moving optical element cooperating therewithand pivoted about a point lying in the focal plane.

2. An aircraft nav-'igational sightcomprising an eyepiece fixed on the aircraft,

and an objective pivoted about a line lying in the focal plane.

3. An aircraft navigational sight `comprising an eyelens fixed on the aircraft, a. field lens 'cooperating therewith and xed with it. and an objective pivoted about a.

u point. lying in the focal plane.l

4. An aircraft navigational sight comprising an eyelens, fixed on the aircraft, a field lens cooperating therewith and fixed `pair of cross wires inA said focal prising an eyelens mounted on the aircraft.

a field lens cooperating therewith and xed with it. and an objective pivoted abouta point lying in the focal plane, and means to turn the `lenses about the optical axis.

7; An aircraft navigational sight `coitnprising an 'eyelens, mounted ontle aircraft,

a field lens cooperating therewith and fixedwith it and a plurality of optical' elements forming an objective system pivoted together about a point in the focal plane, and means to turn the whole telescope system about the optical axis.

8. An aircraft navigational sight comprising an optical element fixed to' the air- 90:

craft, and a moving optical element cooperatm-g therewith and pivoted about a. int

.lying in the focal plane, and a graticu e in said focallplaiie.` J

9. An aircraft navigational sight oom- .pri'sirig an optical element mounted to the aircraft, and a moving optical element cooperating therewith and pivoted about a point lying in the focal' plane, and' means to -tui-n the' elements about an optical axis, 1001 and a raticule in said focal plane.

10. n aircraft navigational sight comprising an optical element fixed to the air.v craft, and amoving optical element coopeb ating therewith pivoted about a pointlying inthe focal plane, a pair of cross Wires. in said focal plane, and means to move said cross wires relatively to one another.

l1. An aircraft navigational sight com prising an eyelens mounted on the aircraft, 11. a. field lens cooperating therewith and Fixed with it, and an objective pivoted about a point lying in the focal plane, and meansA to turn the. lensel's about the optical axis, a

means to'move said cross` wires re atively to one another.` Y

' 12. An aircraft navigational sight comprising an eyelens fixed on the aircraft, a

field lens cooperating therewith and fixed 12 with it, and an objective pivoted about a. point lying in the vfocal plane, a pair of cross wires in said focal lane and meaisto move saidcross wires re atively to one an-- other equally from the optical axis. 125

lane, and .115

in said focal plane,pand means to' move said cross wires relatively to one another, and means to indicatethe amount of .saidmovement. y 1

14. A11 aircraft navigational sight com' prsing an eyelens fixedv 011` the aircraft, a

field lens cooperating therewith and fixed with 'it, and an objective pivoted about a point lying in the focal plane, aepair of cross wires in said l,focal plane, and means to move said cross wires relatively to .oneanother equally from the optical -airis,.an'cl means to indicate the amount of said m vement.

15. An aircraft navigational sight` comprising an optical element fixed to the'ai-rcraft, and a moving optical element cooperating therewith and pivoted about a point lying in the focal plane, and means to maintain said movable part in a constant position 'in space. -I

16. An aircraft navigational sight com- 'prising an eyelens fixed on the aircraft, a

field lens cooperating therewith and fixed with it, and an'objective -pivoted about a. point lying in the focal plane, and means to maintain said objective in a constant. position in space.

17. An aircraft navigational sight comprising an eyelens mounted on the aircraft,

a field lens cooperating therewith and fixed with it, and an objective pivoted about a point lying in the focal plane, and means to turn the lenses about theoptical anis and j means to maintainsad objective in a oonstant position 1n spacef 'c 18. An` aircraft navigational Sight com-V prising an optical element mounted on the aircraft, and a. moving optical element coop- .erating therewith and pivoted about a point lying in the focal plane, a pair of cross wires in said focal plane, andmeans to move said cross' wires relatively to one another,l and means to maintain saidl movable nai-t in a constant position inspace. l

19. An aircraft navigational vsightcomprising an eyelens mounted onthe'aircraft,

-a field lens cooperating therewith and fired vsition in space.-`

with it, and an objective pivoted about 'a' point lying in the focal plane, a pair of cross wires in-said focal plane, and means to move said cross wires 'relativelyto one. another.

point lying in the focal planeyand a xeyroy stat connected to the movable'part to maintain it in constant position in s ace.

21. An aircraft navigationa sight coni-i prising an eyelens mounted on theaircraft,

a field lens coope'ratin'g,l therewith' and fixed with it, and an objective pivoted about a.

Jto move said cross wires relativel another equally from the optical axis, a slidpoint lying in the focal plaiie, and means to turn the lenses about the optical axis in azimutli and a gyrostat connected to the movable part to maintain vit in constant position in space.

22. 'An prising an eyelens mounted on the aircraft,

af, field lens cooperating therewith and fixed aircraft 'navigational sight com-v with it, and an objective pivotedA about a point lying in the focal plane, a pair of cross wires in said focal plane, land means to move; said cross wires relatively to one another f equally from the" optical axis, and a gyrostat connected to the movable part to maintai-n it in constant position in space.

28. An aircraft navigational sight comprising an optical element fixed to the aircraft, and a moving optical element cooperating therewith and pivoted about a point lying in the focal plane, a pair of cross wires in said focal plane, and means to move said cross wires relatively to one another, and

means to indicate the amount of saidmovement, and a gyrostat connected to the mov able part to maintain it in constant position in space.

24:. An aircraft navigational sight comprising an optical element fixed to the aircraft, and a moving optical element cooperating therewith and pivoted about a point in said focal plane, and means to move 'said cross wires relatively to one another, and means to indicate the amount of said movement, and-means to indicate the angle of drift. Y

' 25. An aircraft navigational sight comlying in the focal plane, a pair of cross wires pri-sing an optical element fixed to the aircraft, and a moving` optical element cooperating therewith and pivoted about a point lying. in the focal plane, a pair of'cross wiresl in said focal plane, and means to move said cross wires relatively to one another, and

means to indicatelthe amount of said movement, and agyrostat connected tothe movable part to maintain it in constant'position in space, and meansftoindicatethe angle of drift. v

26. An aircraft navigational sight comprising an eyelens fixed on the aircraft, afield lens cooperating therewith and fixed ivoted about a with it, and anfobjectivel point lying in the focal-,p ane, a. pair of cross wires in said focal plane and means ing scale to indicate 'the amount of said movement, and 'a ,secondv scale indicating angle of drift; 2

27. An aircraft navigational sight compris'ing an eyelens xed on the aircraft, a.

field lens cooperating therewith and xed with it, and an objective pivoted about a point lying in the focal p1ane a air of cross wires in said focal plane, an means to one,

to move said cross Wires relatively to one another equally from the optical axis, and

a gyrostat connected to the movable part to maintain it in constant position in space.,

a sliding scale toindicato thefamount of said movement, and a second scale indicat-v ing-ancla of drift.

28. n aircraft navigational sight comprising an veyelens fixed on the aircraft, a field lens lcooper'atir'lg therewith and fixed with it and an objective pivoted aboutma, point lying in the focal plane, a pair'of cross wires in said focal plane and means to move said cross wires relatively 'to one another equally from the optical axis, a

' sliding scale to indicate the amount of said movement, and a second scale indicating 'said movement, and a second scale indicating angle of drift, and an azimuth scale.

30. An aircraft navigational sieht con1- prising an eyele-ns fixed on the aircraft, a field lens cooperating therewith and fixed with it Vand an objective pivoted about a.

' point lying in the focal plane, a pair of cross wiresin said focal plane and means to move said cross Wires relatively to one another equally from the optical ax1s,.a sliding scale to indicate the amount of said movement. and a second scalefindicatin angle. of drift, and an azimuth scale, sai three scales cooperating with one 'another and a fixed index. i

31. An aircraft navigational sight com .prising an eyelens fixed on the aircraft, a

field lens cooyerating therewith and xed with it, and` :en objective pivoted about a point lying in the focal plane, a pair of cross wires in said focal plane and means to move 'said cross wires relatively to one another equally from the optical axis, and a gyrostatconnected to .the movable part to maintain it in constant position in space 6v 22..An aircraft naviga a sliding 'scale to indicate the Aainonnt o said movement, and a second scale indicating angle of drift, and anazimuth scale, said three scales cooperating withA one another and a fixed index. 4'

tional'. sight oomprising an eyelens vfixed'on the aircrafta field lens cooperating therewithl and fixed.'

with. it andan objective A-pivotecl about a. point lying in the ocal`p1anef, a pair of cross wires in said focal plane and means to'movejsaid cross Wires relatively to one another equally from the optical axis, a slidingY scale Vto indicate the amount of said movement, and a second scale indicatinv angle ,of drift, and an azimuth scale, said three scales cooperating with one another and a fixed index, and a clock indicating Y time.

Y '33. An aircraft navigational sight'comprising an optical element fixed to the aircraft, and a moving optical :element coopera-ting therewith and pivoted about a point lying inthe focal plane. and means to elas# `tically insulate the fixed optical part from its support. Y

34. An aircraft naviga-.tional sight comprising an optical element xed to the aircraft, and a moving optical element cooperating therewith and pivoted about two trunnions at rightangles, lying Vin the focal plane.

35. An aircraft naviffational sight oom-" prising an eyelens fired on the aircraft, a field lens L cooperating therewith and fixed with it,- and an objective ivoted about two trunnions at right angles' ying in the focal 361 An aircraft navigational sight cornf 'Y prising an eyelens aed'on the aircraft, a field lens cooperating therewith and xed `with it, and an objective pivoted about two trunnions'at right angles lying in the focal j -plane, a pair of cross wires in said focal plane 'and means to move said cross Wiresrelatively to one another equally from the optical axis.

.37. An 4aircraft navigational sight com# prising an eyelens xed on the a1rcraft,'a. field lens cooperating therewith and Xed with it, and an objective piv'otcd about two trunnions at right angles lying in the focal plane.l apair of cross wires in said focal lfm plane and means to-move said cross Wires relatively toone anotherV equally-from the optical axi's,asliding scale to indicate theamount Jofsaid` movement, and a second.-

scale indicating angle of ln Witness whereof. l have hereunto signed my name this 24th day of May, 1918,

in the presence of tivosubscribing witnesses-11B rnnorwmus GRAY.

i- Witnesses:

ANNIE JOHNSON, Amann Pnoornn. 

